Hello Everyone, Well a combination of heavy thundery rain coupled with a cold northerly air flow during the recent past resulted in a period of 11 days without any sunshine and heat – a sure recipe for a disastrous situation relating to our local butterflies and moths.

Finally coinciding with the Summer Solstice on the 20^th of June 2024 ( which is the earliest since 1796), we managed to enjoy some heat and sun – the first time the thermometer has reached 21c in Derby since the 2^nd of June 2024! Unfortunately the knock on effect of all the rain and cold is likely to be felt throughout the remainder of this summer regardless as to what weather will be thrown at us!

Yet despite this gloom and doom with many sites struggling to get into a count in double figures, there have been 2 new species seen in the County this last week. First a confirmed Small Skipper was seen by Steve Plant on Allestree Park on the 17^th of June 2024 which was followed by sightings of the White Letter Hairstreak on the 19^th of June 2024 at 2 locations in the centre of Derby – both Pat and I saw 2 individuals close to the Inner Ring Road and Andy Shervill saw 2 more individuals about half a mile away and they were all flying around the tops of Disease Resistant Elms that were planted around 2012, a joint venture between Derby City Council and Butterfly Conservation East Midlands. Just a note on the I D of the summer skippers – the Large Skipper has a pattern on all its wings and also a slightly hooked end to its antennae – they usually site on the foliage of plants. However, the Small Skipper is almost entirely without markings, although the male has a long curved sex brand on its upper wings – they usually fly around the heads of grasses and look for nectar on plants such as knapweed.

By now the new summer brood of the Comma should have emerged (the form Hutchinsoni) but to date no records have been received – this also applies to the Dark Green Fritillary in the Peak District but a couple of recent sightings of the Holly Blue at both

Rosliston F C (Clare Hopkins) and at Holloway (Alison Pritchard) on the 17^th of June 2024 suggest a second brood for this species which had a decent first brood in the Spring, especially in the Lowland part of Derbyshire.

Other interesting recent sightings include :-

Painted Lady :- Individuals noted at both White Rake on the 16^th of June 2024 (Al & John Roberts) and at Dronfield Woodhouse on the 21^st of June 2024 ( Mike Allen)

Wall Brown :- A couple of late first brood individuals seen at Longstone Edge on the 14^th of June 2024 (Stuart Webster) and also in Monsal Dale on the 20^th of June 2024 (Ian & Joy White).

Small Heath :- Always good to get sightings of the species in South Derbyshire and recent records from the area have come from Drakelow NR (Andy Large & Nigel Cowl), Foremarke Reservoir (Vicky Williams), Salter Wood, Street Lane (Jane Rogers) and in Carr Wood, Ripley (Peter Eley) whilst the stronghold remains in the Peak District where 35 no were noted in Hay Dale on the 19^th of June 2024 (Ian & Joy White).

Whilst numbers of Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Large Skippers have yet to approach anything like normal at least Salter Wood at Street Lane provided some reasonable counts on the 20^th of June 2024 for Jane Rogers who noted 38 Meadow Browns, 23 no Ringlets and 15 Large Skippers in the total of 92 butterflies seen there on the day – this contrasts wildly with many transect sites this week which either didn’t reach double figures or even failed to record a butterfly at all!

However some sites in the Peak District are showing a great display of plants, none more so than Hoe Grange Quarry where the quarry floor is looking an absolute picture (see the attached photo) – just a reminder that the Open Day there this year is on Sunday the 7^th of July 2024 from 11 am to 4 pm, courtesy of Longcliffe Quarries, who own the site – have a look at the attached details.

Finally, on Update no 18 dated the 17^th of May 2024, I alerted everyone to the proposal by National Grid to erect overhead cables on pylons across the spine of Derbyshire from Chesterfield to Willington – well residents in Amber Valley have created a webpage for individuals, businesses and wildlife lovers to express their concerns and opposition to the destruction of the countryside – you too can help by visiting the following link :- https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-amber-valley

If you don’t do anything now it could well be too late to influence yet more destruction of our beloved Derbyshire countryside.